Hylton says Hurricane Melissa exposed serious weaknesses in Jamaica’s Logistics and Recovery Systems

Opposition Spokesman on Industry, Trade and Global Logistics, G Anthony Hylton, MP, says the Government’s handling of recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa exposed major weaknesses in Jamaica’s logistics, coordination, and disaster response systems.

Making his contribution to the 2026/2027 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Hylton argued that the challenges experienced in the aftermath of the hurricane raise serious questions about the country’s readiness to achieve its long-promised logistics hub ambitions.

He noted that although relief materials and emergency supplies arrived in Jamaica shortly after the hurricane, many affected communities were still waiting for assistance months later due to delays, weak coordination, and logistical bottlenecks.

According to Hylton, the experience exposed serious weaknesses in the movement, coordination, and distribution of supplies during times of crisis, while also highlighting broader deficiencies within Jamaica’s internal logistics systems. “You cannot build a credible logistics hub while communities are still waiting months for critical supplies after a national disaster,” Hylton said. “Hurricane Melissa exposed serious weaknesses in coordination, transportation, and emergency response that Jamaica must urgently address if we are serious about resilience and long-term economic growth.”

At the same time, the Opposition Spokesman commended the efforts of community groups, churches, fishermen, taxi operators, volunteers, and ordinary Jamaicans who mobilised to support residents in affected areas throughout the recovery period. He said many communities were ultimately supported through grassroots efforts and citizen-led coordination as ordinary Jamaicans stepped in where formal systems struggled to respond effectively.

Hylton maintained that Jamaica cannot credibly position itself as a regional logistics leader while continuing to face major challenges in transportation management, coordination, and emergency response.

He argued that the country urgently needs stronger logistics governance, improved inter-agency coordination, more efficient transportation systems, and modernised disaster preparedness mechanisms capable of responding effectively during times of national crisis.

The Opposition Spokesman also questioned whether sufficient measures have since been implemented to prevent similar failures during future emergencies.

He further stressed that meaningful economic transformation will require sustained investment in transportation infrastructure, digital connectivity, logistics systems, industrial development, and stronger national coordination capable of supporting both emergency response and long-term growth.